Gate-fastener.



R. CUMIVIINGS.

GATE FASTENER.

APPLICATION FILED ocT. B. 19| I.

ll I I Pam-,ed Apr. 2,1m`

INVENTOR v3 Z9 Hol la Cummmjs WITNESSES ATTOHTEY more securely retain HOLLA. CUIVIMINGS, OF TEEDEE, MONTANA.

GATE-FASTENER.

Application led October 8, 1917.

To all whom it may concern.' Y

Be it known that l, ROLLA CUMMINGS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Teedee, in the county et Custer and State et' Montana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inGate-Fasteners, et which the followingis a specilication.

This invention relates to gates'and more particularly to certain new and useful iinprovements in gate latches or fastening means.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an improved gate latch especially intended to be used in connection with wire gates of the type commonly constructed by larn'iers as part ot a cattle inclosure and which is adapted to hold taut Ythe wire strands of the gate, whereby to prevent the usual sagging or slacking which allows the cattle to escape.

A further object of the invention to provide a latch of the above general character, which comprehends the employment of a locking lever adapted to be attached to one 01"' the gate posts and a loop or ring adapted to be engaged with the gate, means being provided for flexibly and adjustably connecting the loop with the lever whereby to regulate the pulling strain exerted on the gate and to permit adjustment for use with Y gates of varying sizes.

The above and other objects as well as the construction and operation ot the invention will be more readily understood from the following description and drawings, in4

which drawings z* Figure l is a top plan view of the invention in applied position.

Fig. 2 is a side view, and

Fig. 3 is a view showing certain details of construction.

In the drawings the numeral 1 is used to designate a fence post having the upper end thereof out away to provide a flat face 2. Secured against the face 2 is a flat plate 3 which is fastened in position by means of a bolt 4 passing therethrough and the post 1. The plate 3 is provided in any suitable manner with a pair of vertical spaced ribs 5 which are on the side adjacent the post and are adapted to be embedded therein to the plate in position. Hingedly connected to the lower edge of the plate 3, as at 6 is a flat semi-circular plate' 7 which in operative position, is adapted to extend. Outwardly at right angles to the plate Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr.. 2, 1913.. semi no. 195,395.

3. This plate has the opposite sides thereof provided with notches 8 positioned in proximity to the hinged connection (i, and at a Vpoint intermediate these notches and in a direct line therewith is further lprovided with an opening through which extends a bolt 9, to which is pivotally connected one end of an arm 10. This arm 10 is arranged beneath the plate and is movable to either side thereof. The free or outer end of the arm is slotted as at 11 and positioned on opposite sides et this slot is a pair ot' upstanding ears 12 which have their inner vertical edges recessed as at 13 to receive the curved peripheral edge of the plate 7.

Pivotally secured between the ears 12 by means of a pivot bolt 14 is the enlarged head 15 of a handle lever 16 which handle lover is adapted to be moved to either side ot' the semi-circular plate and received in one ot the notches S.

Pivotally connected to the arm 10 as indicated at 17 is one end of a coupling member 1S the opposite end oi' which is bilan-cated and provided on opposite sides of the bifurcation with depending lugs 19 apertured as at 20. A chain 21 has one of the links thereofpositioned in the biturcated end of the member| 18 and secured between the lugs 19 by means el a cottcr pin 22 passing theye through. To an end ot this chain is attached a loop or ring 23 which is adapted to be engaged with an upright 2l oi the wire gate.

In Fig. 1 the latch is shown in a gate locking position, but in a normal or released position the arm 10 is adapted to er. tend outwardly at right angles to the plate 3 being thus positioned at a point directly between the notches S. The ring or loop 23 is then engaged with the portion 24E et the gate and the lever 16 is then operated to move the arm 10 to the position shown in Fig. 1 thus drawing the chainv 21 and loop 23 in the direction of the post 1, holding the gate shut and properly stretching the wire strands thereo'. When the arm 10 is in the position shown in Fig. 1 the level1 16 is received in one of the notches 8 to prevent any accidental release of the latch and the notch into which the lever is placed depends on the side to which the arm 10 is moved. To open the gate the lever 10 is first disengaged from the notch and the arm 10 is swung to a position intermediate the two notcheS thus loosening the chain 21 and allowing the loop 23 to be readily disengaged with the gate. The strain exerted on the gate can be adjusted by engaging different links of the chain between the lugs 19 of the coupling member 18.

Vhen the arm 10 has been moved to a releasing position at right angles te the post 1 and the loop 22 is disengaged with the gate the plate 7 is adapted to swing downwardly to lie against the fiat face 2 below the plate 3 whereby t0 permit the lever from being sprung by the cattle rubbing against the same.

From the foregoing it is thought that the opera-tion and construction of this invention is clear and I wish to state herein that l reserve the right to make all desired changes that come within the scope of the appended claims and do not depart from the spirit of the invention.

l claim 1. A gate fastener' including` a semi-circular plate having notches formed in the periphery thereof a movable arm secured to said plate, a lever attached to the free end of said arm and adapted to be received in said notches, a coupling member secured to said arm, a chain adjustably fastened to said coupling member, and a ring carried by said chain.

.2. A gate fastener, comprising a plate adapted to be fastened to a fence post, a second plate hingedly connected to said iirst mentioned plate and having notches formed in the periphery thereof, an arm pivotally connected to said plate, ears formed on the free end of said arm and recessed to receive the curved edge of said plate, an operating lever pivctally secured between said ears and adapted lto be received in said notches, a chain adjustably secured to said arm, and a ring carried by said chain.

3. A gate fastener, including` a plate adapted to be fastened to a fence post and Copier: of this patent may be obtained for having vertical ribs formed on the inner face thereof, a second semi-circular plate hi'ngedly secured to the lower edge of said first mentioned plate and provided with notches in its periphery, an arm having` one end pivotally connected to said semicircular plate, the free end of said arm being cut to provide a slot, upstanding ears positioned on either side of said slot and recessed to receive lthe edge of the semicircular plate, a lever pivotally secured between said ears and adapted to be received in saidl notches, a coupling member movably secured to said arm intermediate the ends thereof, a chain secured to said coupling member, and a ring carried by said chain. i. A gate fastener, including` a plate, an arni pivoted to Said plate and arranged to swing in the arc of a circle said arm having a slot formed in the free end thereof, an actuating lever pivoted in said slot and engageable with the plate to lock the arm against swinging` movement, and a fastening ring carried by said arm.

5. A gatefastener, including a plate, an arm having one end pivoted thereto, i lever directly pivoted to the free end of said arm and adapted for locking engagement with said plate, a coupling member secured to theintermediate portion of said arm and having a slot formed therein, ears eXtending frornlsaid coupling member on 'opposite sides of said slot, a chain having one of its -links arranged in said slot between said ears, and a `fastening pin passing through said ears and link and a ring carried by said chain. y y t In testimony whereof I aiiiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

noLLii oUMivnNes.

Vitnesses l JETTA C. Bronson, y WALTER A. MCKEAN.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

